A Covering
Sinclair writes, “The picture language behind the Greek word for ‘bears’ may come as a surprise. The verb means ‘to cover’, ‘to pass over in silence’ or ‘to keep confidential’. But in its noun form it means a roof! What’s the connection? Simple: a roof covers the house. It keeps the rain out and protects the household. So, love is like a roof: it prevents leaks; it copes with all weathers; it covers things up—including a ‘multitude of sins’ (1 Peter 4:8).”
When we love people, we put up with a lot, just because we love them. Sinclair recalls a friend doing ministry among down-and-outs and their families, and noticing how he could stand right next to someone who smelled terrible without giving away whether he noticed. He could put up with it because he knew how Christ put up with him; he noticed other people’s needs more than their smells.
In the same way, Jesus loves us despite all the ways we offend him. It was Christ’s love for him that enabled Paul to devote so much energy to loving Christians who were difficult, like the Corinthians, as well as those who gave him nothing but joy. He gave a simple explanation of how he could act with such patience and perseverance: “The love of Christ controls us” (5:14). Loving others by bearing with them was a natural consequence of Paul understanding how much Jesus loved him, and how much that love bore with him first.
That same love bears with us too. Because of his great love for us, Jesus chose to bear our sins on the cross. We don’t need to bear God’s judgement for our sin because Jesus bore it for us. To go back to the picture language Paul uses, Jesus has put a roof over our heads. In him, we have a hiding place; we can be safe in Jesus’ love for us, and free to love others in the same way.
Today, consider what God is calling you to put up with at the moment. What difference does it make that Jesus bears your sins? Praise God for sending Jesus to be your hiding place, and pray for his love to control all you do and say.
Love Came Down at Christmas by Sinclair B. Ferguson (published by The Good Book Company) available to buy at Eden Christian Bookstore or Amazon.